Velocipede.



M. P. HERRES.

VELOCIPEDE.

APPLICATION HLfID JUNE 27, 1917.

'1 ,266,464. I Patented May 14-, 1918.

lNVENTOFl wamesszs Mcfimf/P [75/7 ATTORNEY MICHAEL Pi HERRES, or PEon-A; WASHINGTON.

VELOCIPEDE.

Application filed June 27, 1917.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, MICHAEL P. Hnnnns, acitizen of the United States, residing at Peola, in the county of Garfield and State of lVashington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in velocipedes, and more particularly in velocipedes of the type wherein the body portion thereof is formed in the shape of a horse or other animal.

An object of the invention is to provide a velocipede having its body portion made in the form of a horse or other animal, and constructed in two parts including a body and a separate head portion adapted to be movably supported on said body.

Another object of the invention is to operatively connect the movable head portion with the steering wheel of the velocipede, whereby the head of the animal will always point in the direction of travel.

Another object of the invention is to pro-- vide improved propelling means adapted to be attached to wheels arranged beneath the body portion of the velocipede and actuated by foot pedals pivotally connected to said body portion.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will be in part described and in part understood from the following description of the present preferred embodiment, the same being illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my inc-- proved device, and Fig. 2, is a bottom plan view of the same.

In the present instance, the velocipede is made in the form of a horse and consists of two main parts including a body 1 and a separate head 2. Secured to the under surface of the body 1 adjacent the rear end are the depending posts 8 which are spaced apart as shown and have their lower ends bifurcated to receive an axle 4:. The axle 4 is retained in position by means of small blocks 5 which are received in the bifurcated ends of the post and are fastened therein by means of nails or other securing means. On oppo site ends of the axle 4 are mounted the driving wheels 6, and between said wheels and the posts 3 the axle is oifset to provide the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 14:, 1918.

Serial No:1'77,331.

oppositely disposed cranks 7. Connected to the cranks 7 by means of the straps 8 are the pitmen rods 9 which have their opposite ends connected to the pedal members 10, secured to opposite sides of the body portion 1. As shown, each of the pedal members 10 consist of a narrow strip of metal having its upper end bent pivotally connected to one side of the body 1 and its lower end bent outwardly to provide a foot rest 11. Above the foot rest 11 is arranged a series of vertical spaced openings with which the end of the pitman rod is adapted to be engaged, in order to vary the stroke of the latter.

Positioned beneath the forward end of the body portion 1 is a steering wheel 12 which is j ournaled in the bifucated lower end of a steering post 13. Formed on the upper end of the post 13 is a reduced pintle 14 which as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 extends upwardly through a vertical opening formed in the forward end of the body 1 and is adapted to be secured to the movable head 2. Projecting outwardly from either side of the head 2 are the handle bars 15 by means of which the head can be turned to face in any direction and when so turned will, through its connection with the pintle 14, cause a corresponding movement on the part of the steering wheel 12 whereby the head of the animal and the steering wheel will always point in the same direction.

From the foregoing description, it is thought that the operation of my device is fairly obvious. Motion imparted to the pivoted pedal members 10 will be communicated to the driving wheels 6 by means of the cranked axle 4 and the pitmen rods 9, and the steering of the device is accomplished by turning the head in the desired direction which movement of the head will cause a correspondin r movement on the part of the steering wheel 12 owing to the connection existing therebetween.

I claim 2- A velocipede, including a body portion, a steering wheel supporting the forward end of said body, supporting posts depending from the rear of said body, an axle carried by said posts, traction wheels secured to the ends of said axle, cranks formed on the axle between said posts and wheels, pedal bars pivotally secured to said body and having vertically spaced openings provided therein, In testimony whereof I aflix my signature and connecting rods secured at one end to in presence of tWo Witnesses. sald cranks and at thelr oppos1te ends to MICHAEL R HERRES said bars, the last mentioned ends of the connecting rods being vertically adjustable Witnesses:

along the pedal bars to vary the stroke of WILLIAM G. PoN'rrUs, the rods. NICHOLAS FLONERGIUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. G. 

